League Two 2021/22 (very) early discussion

[jojo]

We are going to be in big big trouble next season if we don’t get the signings right in the summer. Now that the rest of the league have found out how to play against our one dimensional tactics, this team as it is will be in a relegation battle next season. The form over the second half of the season would certainly suggest that, but not only the form, the standard of performances have been down there with turgid relegation standard cufc teams of the past.

Im not talking about an overhaul here, just two or three signings in certain positions that will make the difference required.

You'll be fine, you only capitualted due to a long layoff due to covid

 

[hellogregory]

You'll be fine, you only capitualted due to a long layoff due to covid

That would explain a few weeks of shit results and form, not half a season.

 

[denzel ecfc]

We are going for it next season, apparently. Spending the Ollie Watkins money. I'm sure this will end well.

 

[kieran_vale]

Suppose Salford will immediately be the bookies favourites regardless who stays down here from the playoffs or comes up as will go on another mass spending spree. Problem for them is there's a difference between talent accumulation and building a team.

I'm going to say based on what have seen today if Mansfield can find themselves a decent striker this time I can see them pushing at the top. Leaving aside whatever it was we put on the field today their midfield was excellent especially Lapslie but when you have Bowery missing sitters constantly up front I can also see why they've underachieved like us.

For us it now seems clear what will constitute the Vale squad next season will be nothing like the one we've fielded this season so will wait and see what comes of it.

 

[valefan16]

Suppose Salford will immediately be the bookies favourites regardless who stays down here from the playoffs or comes up as will go on another mass spending spree. Problem for them is there's a difference between talent accumulation and building a team.

I'm going to say based on what have seen today if Mansfield can find themselves a decent striker this time I can see them pushing at the top. Leaving aside whatever it was we put on the field today their midfield was excellent especially Lapslie but when you have Bowery missing sitters constantly up front I can also see why they've underachieved like us.

For us it now seems clear what will constitute the Vale squad next season will be nothing like the one we've fielded this season so will wait and see what comes of it.

Scary to think we were so bad over Christmas Bowery managed a bloody hatrick against us!

Clarke’s interview pulled no punches tonight didn’t it? “I can’t wait to get rid of the deadwood” and “There will be one or two right good principled points made to one or two players that I will enjoy saying. Because for me, being a professional footballer is every single day, living your life right, doing all the things right"

He has Micky Adams about him does DC, he’s honest and not scared of sorting problems which the likes of Askey, Aspin and Brown seemed to be.

Im excited to see how this summer pans out especially with the backing they will get and the work DC and Flitcroft have put in.

 

[valefan16]

In terms of the league itself it looks weak on paper next season. Bolton going up takes one big spender out, it Tranmere go up for example and one of the money bags from the National League doesn’t come up it looks fairly open.

Salford will spunk loads on ageing ex top level/Championship veterans most likely and sack four managers in the process of finishing 10th.

The sides coming down, Northampton and Rochdale look meh, should be competitive but not stand out favourites for it, Bristol Rovers is a big club I guess off the field but haven’t done much on it.

Swindon normally you’d be seeing them as likely to be up there, tend to come down and challenge but obviously this time seem to be basket case levels unless they can sort that. Not sure the latest on that.

League looks there for the taking for anyone really. No real stand outs at all.

 

[kieran_vale]

Scary to think we were so bad over Christmas Bowery managed a bloody hatrick against us!

Clarke’s interview pulled no punches tonight didn’t it? “I can’t wait to get rid of the deadwood” and “There will be one or two right good principled points made to one or two players that I will enjoy saying. Because for me, being a professional footballer is every single day, living your life right, doing all the things right"

He has Micky Adams about him does DC, he’s honest and not scared of sorting problems which the likes of Askey, Aspin and Brown seemed to be.

Im excited to see how this summer pans out especially with the backing they will get and the work DC and Flitcroft have put in.

I'm willing to lay money that the one about being professional he will have been referring to Pope and maybe Cullen neither of whom have looked anywhere near fit all season. It was noticeable when asked about Pope the sum total of what he said was essentially he has good banter in the dressing room.

The key thing is so long as we do our homework properly am hopeful it will turn out ok with the structure we now have. That has been our problem in the past when we have gone for a big turnover either it has been the John Askey approach of just sign a load you've worked with previously or the foreign experiment where it was clear the sum total of our scouting was seeing a couple of clips from YouTube forwarded by some dodgy agent. As Cheltenham and Morecambe have shown you don't need to throw loads of money around just be smart.

 

[valefan16]

I'm willing to lay money that the one about being professional he will have been referring to Pope and maybe Cullen neither of whom have looked anywhere near fit all season. It was noticeable when asked about Pope the sum total of what he said was essentially he has good banter in the dressing room.

The key thing is so long as we do our homework properly am hopeful it will turn out ok with the structure we now have. That has been our problem in the past when we have gone for a big turnover either it has been the John Askey approach of just sign a load you've worked with previously or the foreign experiment where it was clear the sum total of our scouting was seeing a couple of clips from YouTube forwarded by some dodgy agent. As Cheltenham and Morecambe have shown you don't need to throw loads of money around just be smart.

Sounds like our recruitment is well under way too.

I thought it may be McKirdy because he’s backed him, then picked him today and he was dog.

Monday evening should be interesting that’s for sure!

 

[Indian Dan]

I can’t see any of the 4 relegated teams doing much next season. We were/are beyond woeful, yet somehow Bristol Rovers contrived to be even worse. We’ve got no owner, no manager, thankfully very few players and a FA charge hanging over us.

All depends on the new ownership getting sorted. Not hopeful.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Is Barton still in charge at Rovers? Can't stand the guy but if he stays he might give them a shot.

 

[Indian Dan]

He’ll be banged up in the summer. Tbh, he’s been dreadful since joining Rovers. I know they’ll bang on about ‘not his squad’ and ‘wait until he brings his own players in’. He’s just a bully, I reckon.